Edward h



(No Model.)

E. H. JOHNSON. ELBGTRIG SWITCH.

110. 448,431. Patented 1441. 17,1841.

arten STATES PATENT tric..

EDWARD I-I. JOHNSON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

sPEotFIGATtoN forming part of Letters Patent No. 448,431, dated March 17, 1891. Application siedi/rmi 27,1385. serrano. 160,38a` (Nomina nearly to the center of the space separating To @ZZ whom, t may concern.'

Be it known that I, EDWARD II. JOHNSON,

of New York city, in the county and State of i b I),

New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Electrical Switches,

of which the following is a speciiication.

The object I have in view is principally to produce a switch for controlling electrical circuits, which will act to make and break circuit with a quick movement, so as to avoid the arcing at contacts which may be produced by a slow movement. This I accomplish by the employment of one or more powerful springs located between the handle of the switch and the moving contacts thereof, and so connected with such parts that the springs will first be put under tension by the movement of the handle and when the tension is at the maximum point will act upon such moving contacts independent of the handle and will throw such moving contacts in one direction or the other with a quick powerful movement.

Illy object is further to provid-e a simple and compact construction ot' switch ernbodying this principle, and to apply the principle to a double pole-switch, as well as to improve the form of the contacts, giving large surface and a considerable conducting capacity.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, Figure l is a plan view of the switch with the operating-handle removed, the circuits controlled by the Yswitch being open; Fig. 2, an elevation of the switch with the handle in section, the switch being closed;

Fig. 3,21. top View of the moving contact-piece,-

its operating-stem being in horizontal section, and Fig. 4E a bot-tom View of the handle.

A is a base of insulating material, upon which are mounted four metal binding-posts B B and O O, the switch shown being designed for a double pole-switch, for making and breaking both sides of the circuit simultaneously. The conductors of one side of circuit run to posts B B', while those of the other side of the circuit run to the posts C C. From the post C a horizontal stationary contact-plate d extends nearly topost C', and from C beneath said plate a a similar plate c extends nearly to O. Between the lapping plates o o' are the shorter plates b b', which are in the same plane and extend `the full carrying capacity of the switch.

the posts, but do not meet. Posts B B have similar long contact-plates d d and short ones The moving contact-piece is composed of a metal arms E E', projecting on opposite sides therefrom and electrically separa-ted by the hub. Each ot' these wings is split horizontally, and the two parts enter between the plates a ct and l) b. The circuit is closed as soon as the arm strikes the plates d ct; but it is not until the arm reaches the central posi tion that the plates b b are connected, giving So in breaking circuit the connection between 4plates b b is first broken and then that between plates c a. Vhen the moving' contact-piece is in the position shown in Fig. 1, the circuit is open. When at right angles to .that position the circuit is closed. A stop c lof insulating material limits the movement of the contact-piece. The mechanism for throwing the moving `contact by a quick powerful action is the principal feature of the invention, and will now be described. There are three parts to this mechanism, each capable of movement independent of the others-the contact-piece already described, the spring-eccentric, and the handle. Acentralstem F passesthrough the hub D ot' the contact-piece into the base. Above the contact-piece it turns in a crossstrap cl, which is secured to two studs c e rising from base. The stem turns loosely in hub D for a limited distance, a key f on the stem, Fig. 3, playing in a slot g in hub and permitting this limited independent movement. Between the hub I) and strap d the stem is formed into two cranks G G', which are connected by links h 7L with the upper ends of powerful spiral springs II II, placed upon studs e e', and having their lower ends secured in the base, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. The stem with its cranks and springs forms the spring-eccentric referred to.

Upon the upper end of the stemF, above strap CZ, is the handle I. This handle is secured loosely to the stem and has slots t' on its under side which engage with pins on a collar 7c, secured rigidly to the stem. These slots permit a limited movement of the spring- IOO eccentric independent ol. the handle. The handle is free to remain in any position to which it is moved, so that the switch will retain either position and will maintain the circuit either made or broken.

The operation of the mechanism is as follows: To throw the contact-piece from the position shown in Fig. l to one at right angles closing the circuit, the handle is turned to the left. The cranks turning draw upon the springs and continue to increase the tension on such springs until the cranks are brought into line with the links, the centers being then in line. A slight further movement throws the cranks over the center and releases the springs, and the cranks now under control of the springs are thrown forward in the same direction with a quick powerful action, the stem turning away from the handle. The movement permitted of the stem in the hub ot` the contact-piece causes such piece to remain stationary during the iirst part of the movement of the handle, the contact-piece being under the control of the springs and free from the handle in making and breaking circuit. To break circuit the reverse movement of the handle will be made, the springs being tirst put under tension, and then when the line of centers is passed, released and throwing the contact-piece. It is evident that this movement has great advantages independent of the particular form of switch with which it is used, and I desire.

to be understood as claiming this movement for switches generally without limitation to the special details of the switch shown and described.

What I claim is- 1. A hand-switch for making and breaking an electric circuit having, in combination, a movingcontact-piece, a spring connected with said moving contact-piece by a loose connection, and a free handle connected with such spring and acting by its movement to strain the spring and to release it without making or breaking the circuit, whereby the spring will then throw the moving contact-piece by direct spring action to the end of its movement, and the circuit will be made or broken by a spring-snap action, substantially as set forth.

2. Ahand-switch for making and breaking an electric circuit having, in combination, a moving contact-piece, a spring connected with said moving contact-piece by a loose connection and adapted to throw it when strained and released by direct spring action to the end of its movement, and a free handle connected with such spring by a loose connection and acting by its movement to strain the spring and to release it without making or breaking the circuit, whereby the spring will then throw the moving contact-piece independent of the handle and the circuit will be made or broken by a spring-snap action, substantially as set forth.

3. A hand-switch for making and breaking an electric circuit having, in combination, a pivoted contact-piece, a spring connected eccentrically thereto by a loose connection, and a free handle connected with such spring and adapted to move its bearing-point across the line of centers without making or breaking the circuit, whereby the spring will be strained and released and will move the contact-piece and make or break the circuit by a springsnap action, substantially as set forth.

4. A hand-switch for making and breaking an electric circuit having, in combination, a pivoted contact-piece, a spring connected eccentrically thereto by a loose connection, and a free handle connected with such spring by a loose connection and adapted to move its .bearing-point across the line of centers without making or breaking the circuit, whereby the spring will be strained and released and will move the contact-piece independent ot the handle and make or break the circuit by a springsnap action, substantially as set forth.

5. A double pole-switch having, in combination, two sets of stationary contacts, a contact-piece pivoted between them and having insulated metallic arms which bridge the contacts of the two sets by the turning movement of the pivoted contact-piece, and a sp1-ingeecentric throwing such contact-piece in both directions, substantially as set forth.

6. In an electrical switch, the combination, with the pivoted contact-piece, of the lapping stationary contacts in different planes and the approaching stationary contacts in the same plane, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

This specification signed and witnessed this 19th day of March, 1885.

EDWVARD H. JOHNSON..

Witnesses:

A. W. KIDDLE, H. W. SEELY. 

